ANTHROPOLOGY (Theory) – H.S. Final Exam 2022

Complete Answers

1 Answer in short: (1×5 = 5)

Q.1(a) Which race the Eskimos belong to?
Answer: The Eskimos belong to the Mongoloid race, characterized by yellowish skin colour, straight hair and broad face.

Q.1(b) Name a Bronze Age civilization.
Answer: One important Bronze Age civilization is the Indus Valley Civilization, known for advanced town planning and metallurgy.

Q.1(c) Mention a name of terrace cultivation community of North-East India.
Answer: The Apatani community of Arunachal Pradesh practices terrace cultivation.

Q.1(d) Who coined the term ‘gene’?
Answer: The term ‘gene’ was coined by Wilhelm Johannsen in 1909.

Q.1(e) Name one major cultivated product of the Apatanis.
Answer: Rice is the major cultivated product of the Apatanis.

2 Choose the correct answer: (1×3 = 3)

Q.2(a) The Scandinavians are typical representatives of Nordic / Ainu.
Answer: Nordic

Q.2(b) Mousterian point is a core / flake tool.
Answer: Flake tool

Q.2(c) The Nuer people of Africa are hunters / pastoralists.
Answer: Pastoralists

Q.3 Write what do you know about unifacial and bifacial side-scraper. (1+1 = 2)
Answer: A unifacial side-scraper is a stone tool worked on only one surface to create a scraping edge.
A bifacial side-scraper is a stone tool worked on both surfaces, making it sharper and more durable.

Q.4 What do you understand by phenotype? Give example. (2)
Answer: Phenotype refers to the observable physical characteristics of an individual that result from the interaction between genes and environment.
Example: Height, skin colour, eye colour.

Q.5 Mention two reasons why blood group system is considered the most reliable racial criterion. (2)
Answer: Two reasons why blood group system is considered the most reliable racial criterion are-

1. Blood groups are genetically inherited and are not affected by environmental factors.
2. Blood groups remain unchanged throughout life, making them scientifically reliable.

Q.6 What is meant by a tool? Distinguish between core tool and flake tool. (1+1 = 2)
Answer: A tool is an object deliberately shaped or modified by humans to perform specific functions.

Difference between core tool and flake tool are-

1. A core tool is made from the main stone core after flakes are removed.
2. A flake tool is made from flakes detached from the core and then retouched.

Q.7 Provide the definition of family as provided by G. P. Murdock. (2)
Answer: According to G. P. Murdock, “The family is a social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction, including adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship.”

Q.8 What do you understand by compound family? (2)
Answer: A compound family consists of two or more nuclear families related through marriage, living together under one roof and sharing common property and economic activities.

Q.9 Write the definition of Ecology and Ecosystem. (1+1 = 2)
Answer: Ecology is the scientific study of the relationship between living organisms and their environment.
An ecosystem is a functional unit consisting of living organisms interacting with each other and with the physical environment.

Q.10 Write the names of two tools used in the Solutrean culture. What technique was used to make these tools? (1+1 = 2)
Answer: Two tools used in Solutrean culture are laurel-leaf point and shouldered point.
These tools were made using the pressure-flaking technique.

Q.11 Show the differences between a naturally broken piece of stone and a tool. (2)
Answer: A tool shows deliberate shaping, symmetry and retouching, whereas a naturally broken stone has irregular edges and no signs of human workmanship.

Q.12 Ecology can also be referred to as Environmental Biology. Why? (2)
Answer: Ecology is called Environmental Biology because it studies how organisms interact with both the living and non-living components of their environment.

Q.13 What is an Antibody? When does agglutination occur in blood? (1+2 = 3)
Answer: An antibody is a protein produced by the immune system to neutralize foreign antigens.
Agglutination occurs in blood when incompatible blood groups are mixed, for example during an incorrect blood transfusion, leading to an antigen–antibody reaction that causes red blood cells to clump together.

Q.14 What are microliths? In which prehistoric period were these used? (2+1 = 3)
Answer: Microliths are very small, finely shaped stone tools usually made of flint or chert. They were often fixed into wooden or bone handles to form composite tools such as arrows, spears, sickles, and knives, and were mainly used for hunting and harvesting.
Microliths were mainly used during the Mesolithic period.

Q.15 What do you understand by patrilocal and matrilocal joint family? Mention two communities from North-East India where matrilocal joint family is evident. (2+1 = 3)
Answer: A patrilocal joint family is a type of family system in which, after marriage, the wife goes to live with the husband’s family and lineage, and descent and inheritance are generally traced through the male line.
A matrilocal joint family is one in which, after marriage, the husband resides with the wife’s family, and the family organization is centered around the female line.
Two communities from North-East India where the matrilocal joint family system is evident are the Khasi and Garo communities.

Q.16 Why are the rules of descent significant in a society? (3)
Answer: The rules of descent are significant in a society because they determine the inheritance and transfer of property and wealth from one generation to another. They help in establishing an individual’s social identity, lineage, and kinship relationships within the family and the larger community. Additionally, rules of descent regulate marriage alliances, succession, rights, duties, and social responsibilities, thereby maintaining social order and continuity.

Q.17 Write briefly on any two hunting techniques adopted by the hunting communities. (1½+1½ = 3)
Answer: One hunting technique is trapping, in which animals are captured using pits, snares, nets, or nooses. These traps are usually placed along animal paths or near water sources and allow hunters to catch animals with minimal effort and risk.

Another technique is group hunting, where members of the community work together in a coordinated manner to surround, chase, and kill animals. This method increases efficiency, enables the hunting of large animals, and strengthens cooperation and social bonds within the group.

Q.19 What is Ali-Ai-Ligang? Provide a brief note on hunting and fishing practices of the Mishing tribe in Assam. (1+2 = 3)
Answer: Ali-Ai-Ligang is an important agricultural festival of the Mishing tribe of Assam, celebrated to mark the beginning of the sowing of seeds and to pray for a good harvest.

The Mishing tribe practices hunting and fishing as supplementary means of livelihood. Hunting is carried out using traditional methods such as traps, snares, and occasionally spears to catch small animals and birds. Fishing is widely practiced using nets, bamboo traps, spears, and hooks in rivers, streams, and wetlands, reflecting their close dependence on the natural environment.

Q.20 Write short notes on (any two): (3×2 = 6)

(a) Greenhouse Effect
Answer: The greenhouse effect is a natural process by which certain gases present in the Earth’s atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, and nitrous oxide, trap heat radiated from the Earth’s surface. These gases prevent the heat from escaping into space, thereby warming the atmosphere and maintaining a suitable temperature for life. However, excessive release of greenhouse gases due to human activities like burning of fossil fuels and deforestation has intensified the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change.

(b) Causes of Soil Erosion
Answer: Soil erosion is the removal of the top fertile layer of soil by natural forces such as wind and water. It is mainly caused by deforestation, which exposes soil to erosion, overgrazing by animals, floods and heavy rainfall that wash away soil, and unscientific agricultural practices like excessive ploughing and improper irrigation. Human activities such as mining and construction also accelerate soil erosion, resulting in loss of soil fertility and reduced agricultural productivity.

Q.21 Who rediscovered Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance? Discuss the Law of Dominance and the Law of Segregation. (1+2+2 = 5)
Answer: Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance were rediscovered independently by Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak in the year 1900.

The Law of Dominance states that when two contrasting alleles are present together in a heterozygous condition, only one allele, called the dominant allele, expresses itself in the phenotype, while the other allele, called the recessive allele, remains unexpressed. Thus, the dominant trait masks the expression of the recessive trait.

The Law of Segregation states that the two alleles of a gene remain separate and segregate from each other during the formation of gametes. As a result, each gamete receives only one allele of a gene, ensuring that the allele pair is restored during fertilization.

Q.23 “Shifting cultivation should be replaced by permanent cultivation.” Discuss with reasons. (5)
Answer: Shifting cultivation involves clearing forest land by cutting and burning vegetation and cultivating crops for a few years before moving to a new area. This practice leads to large-scale deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and decline in soil fertility due to repeated burning and short fallow periods. It also contributes to environmental imbalance and reduced agricultural productivity in the long run.
Permanent cultivation, on the other hand, allows continuous use of the same land with proper soil management practices such as crop rotation, use of manure, irrigation, and conservation techniques. It ensures better land utilization, prevents soil erosion, maintains soil fertility, increases agricultural output, and supports environmental sustainability. Therefore, shifting cultivation should be gradually replaced by permanent cultivation for ecological balance and sustainable development.

OR

What is Jhum cultivation? Discuss its merits and demerits. (1+2+2 = 5)
Answer: Jhum cultivation is a traditional slash-and-burn method of agriculture practiced mainly in hilly and forested regions, where vegetation is cleared, burned, and crops are grown on the same land for a short period.

Merits of Jhum cultivation: Jhum cultivation requires low cost and minimal use of tools and technology. It is based on traditional knowledge passed down through generations and provides food security to local communities.

Demerits of Jhum cultivation: Jhum cultivation causes deforestation, soil erosion, and loss of soil fertility due to repeated burning. It also leads to environmental degradation, reduced agricultural productivity, and ecological imbalance when practiced continuously.

Note:

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